GAEL Givet is one of four key players doubtful for Blackburn Rovers’ next match at Everton after the French defender indicated that he was ‘not in the right frame of mind’ to play in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham.

Givet had been expected to return from a two-match ban at the weekend, despite an ongoing dispute with the club over the terms of the contract he signed in 2009.

The 29-year-old believes the club should settle an outstanding tax payment, understood to be in the region of £250,000, but Rovers bosses have suggested otherwise.

Steve Kean had said last week that Givet had continued to train well and would be back in the squad to face Birmingham following a suspension for dissent aimed towards the referee after Rovers’ loss at Fulham.

But Kean has now revealed that the defender decided he was not mentally ready to play at the weekend.

The Rovers boss hopes the situation will be resolved this week, enabling Givet to feature in the trip to Everton this coming Saturday.

“What’s happening with Gael we’d rather keep in house but it’s been in the press he’s got an ongoing situation we’re trying to resolve from when he first came to the club,” he said.

“He had a problem with his contract, hopefully that will be resolved.

“He didn’t really feel as though he was in the frame of mind to concentrate 100 per cent on the game.

“I think this will come to a head and I’m confident it will be resolved in the next four or five days.

“Then hopefully he can get his mind back on being committed to the remaining games.

“I think everyone knows when they see him playing that his commitment and passion is there in abundance.

“But obviously we have to combine that with concentration and for his head to be totally clear before he goes and plays in these games.”

Rovers were forced to withdraw Junior Hoilett, Roque Santa Cruz and Ryan Nelsen because of injury against Birmingham and Kean is keeping his fingers crossed that all three will be fit to face Everton.

“Junior had a tight hamstring and hopefully that will settle down,” he said.

“Sometimes you’ve got to look at the games coming up and get him off as a precaution.

“The same with Roque Santa Cruz. His hamstring was a little bit tight on Thursday and the medical staff said he was probably going to be at risk after an hour, which is why we took him off.

“A couple of weeks ago Ryan Nelsen had fluid drained off his knee and he just felt it was playing up.

“Hopefully we can get that maybe drained again and let it settle down over a four or five-day period.

“Hopefully he’ll be ready for the Everton game but if not we’ll probably have to play Phil Jones there beside Chris Samba.”